Sound Transit dedicates Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station
New transit facility on I-5 median will improve regional access to daily and evening express service to Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood and Ash Way
Sound Transit celebrated the last of its bus-related Sound Move capital projects today when it dedicated its Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The transit center, located in the Interstate-5 median at 236th Street Southwest, opens for service on Sunday, Mar. 20.
Speakers at the event included Sound Transit Board Chair and Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, Snohomish Councilmember and Community Transit Board Chair Dave Gossett, Mountlake Terrace Mayor Pro Tem Laura Sonmore, Regional Administrator for Washington State Department of Transportation Lorena Eng, Regional Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration Rick Krochalis and Joe Marine, Sound Transit Boardmember, Community Transit Board Vice Chair, and Mayor of Mukilteo.
"I would like to thank the City of Mountlake Terrace, Community Transit, the Washington congressional delegation, Washington State Department of Transportation, the Puget Sound Regional Council, and the Federal Transit Administration for their partnership in achieving this significant milestone-the last of Sound Move's bus-related capital projects," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. "Starting Sunday, our new freeway station will provide fast and convenient access to 11 regional and local bus routes."
The project connects the freeway station to the third floor of the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center garage with a covered, concrete pedestrian bridge that crosses the northbound lanes of I-5. Station features include direct-access bus bays for northbound and southbound routes; fully accessible, weather-protected passenger platforms; attractive benches; and art-enhanced glass walls to minimize freeway noise. The waiting area features a large bronze log sculpture cast from a felled tree and a series of stainless steel "tree rings" by artists Nancy Chew and Jacqueline Metz.
"The grand opening of the Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station allows citizens to see transportation progress being made here today," said Mountlake Terrace Pro Tem Mayor Laura Sonmore. "This facility, which will complement the future extension of high capacity transit to Snohomish County, is a tremendous asset to our community, particularly our efforts to revitalize our downtown. The City of Mountlake Terrace continues to grow as a convenient gateway to take transit to downtown Seattle, University of Washington, and Everett. Public transportation choices such as bus service and light rail provide personal mobility and independence for everyone."
When the freeway station opens this weekend, ST Express buses to Seattle will arrive at and depart from the facility seven days a week. The station's unique design will allow swift transit access from the freeway to the facility, enabling transit agencies to run more frequent morning and afternoon peak, and midday and evening, service. For the first time, weekend bus service to Seattle will also operate from Mountlake Terrace. Three Community Transit routes will use the new facility, and other Community Transit routes will continue to use the agency's adjacent 890-stall transit center, which houses passenger drop-off areas, bicycle racks and lockers.
"With this wonderful new freeway station, we'll be able to operate more efficiently and reduce our costs, while providing more transit options for Brier, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Shoreline residents," said Joyce Eleanor, Community Transit Chief Executive Officer.
"The new Mountlake Terrace station is the latest product from a strong partnership between Sound Transit and WSDOT," said Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. "Not only will it improve Sound Transit's bus service, it will ease congestion, cut emissions and save commuters at the pump as gas prices continue to rise."
As a result of the ST2 ballot measure passed by voters in 2008, Sound Transit will add 134 daily express bus trips to the bus service that will continue to run from Community Transit's adjacent 890-stall transit center, which houses passenger drop-off areas, bicycle racks, and lockers.
Sound Transit projects that transit enhancement from the new station will reduce traffic vehicle trips by more 535,000 a year by 2030, with nearly 7,500,000 fewer vehicle miles traveled each year.
The Freeway Station, the last Sound Move bus-related capital project approved by voters in 1996, will serve these six regional routes:
ST Express Route 511 - Ash Way-Seattle
ST Express Route 512 - Everett-Ash Way-Seattle (begins in June)
ST Express Route 513 - Eastmont-Seattle
Community Transit Route 413 - Swamp Creek-Seattle
Community Transit Route 414 - McCollum Park -Seattle
Community Transit Route 415 - North Lynnwood-Seattle
Community Transit's Mountlake Terrace Transit Center, which is to the freeway station, serves these routes:
Community Transit Route 111 - Brier-Mountlake Terrace
Community Transit Route 130 - Aurora Village-Lynnwood
Community Transit Route 810 - McCollum Park-University District
Community Transit Route 871 - Edmonds Park & Ride-University District
King County Metro Route 347 - Mountlake Terrace-Northgate
The $35.4 million project was funded with $22.6 million from Sound Transit, a $5 million Regional Mobility grant from Washington state, and $9 million in federal funding, including $4.6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies. The City of Mountlake Terrace and Community Transit provided planning assistance.
MidMountain Contractors, Inc. served as general contractor for the project. HNTB completed preliminary engineering and environmental work, and WSDOT provided final design and construction management services. Muse Atelier secured public art for the station. Construction began in May, 2009.
More information about the Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station is available at www.soundtransit.org/mountlaketerrace.